Damon Lee Collins

Damon Lee Collins, born on the 26th day of January in 1981, literally made headlines with his entrance into this existence via the local paper for being the first baby born in the hospitals new wing. Damon was a healthy and happy addition to the Collins family. In his earliest years, Damon and his older brother Shawn would be found amongst the gardens and animals on the family farm while also adventuring through the woods on the property enjoying the free-range life of a young country boy.

While fishing, boating, romping, running, swinging, swimming, and the general rambling around of kid life on the farm of his early years was enjoyable, Damon embraced the transition from the dusty graveled roads to the paved city streets. Damon and his brother took special joy in exploring much of their surroundings in the smaller cities of east central Illinois (Paris and Charleston in their youth) on bicycles, and would spend hours after school before dinner on grand adventures together.

Damon showed himself to be a very bright student with a keen sense of humor and a streak of daredevil flare that would sometimes land him in the capable care of his mother, a nurse, at the local hospital. In fact, both the Collins boys were known as the bruise brothers for a stretch of time due to their knack for visiting mom at work unexpectedly (and possibly with broken bones or other contusions).

Damons imagination was truly captured by the electronicwonders of the emerging technology of the 80s and early 90s, and along with his brother spent many cold winter nights and blistering hot summer afternoons saving princesses and battling bad guys on their NES and SNES video game systems that their own grandma battled the masses to procure on various black Friday outings.

Damon was rollerblading and computer programming his way through his early teenage years forming lifelong friendships through music, computers, and zooming along over pavement on various wheeled vehicles. It was clear that computer science was in his future when he custom built his own computer well before he would be old enough to drive a car. The many music and graphic design projects that he produced in his early teenage years demonstrated Damons technical mastery of software, as well as his artistic sensibilities. He shined bright through his passions in life.

As Damon blazed his own path into adulthood, he put to work the skills he obtained on his own time and worked tirelessly often late into the night. Damons long career in Computer Science as an IT Professional (and many other hats) was one of the defining features of his life. This facet of his short time on this planet was one that he was particularly proud of. His work at the University of Illinois was very important to him and he was a dedicated member of the team he worked with there.

Music was another deep passion for Damon. His time being sonically creative and playing tunes with his friends and bandmates was always a highlight he would gush about when connecting with his family and friends. Engaging with the world through a musical dialogue was a constant for Damon in his adult life. It brought such joy and meaning to him.

Damons sweet demeanor and generosity were widely knownamong those who were around him. He cared so much about so many things, however, it was the people in his close orbit and particularly his immediate family that his love was at its strongest. Damon was always willing to help a friend in need and keeping his family close was core to who he was as a person. He will be greatly missed by so many. It is truly hard to imagine a world without him in it. Damon is survived by his mother, Jan Patterson, and his older brother, Shawn Collins, as well as so many aunts, uncles, cousins, and many friends from near and far.

In lieu of flowers, please consider making a donation to Save the Music at http://www.savethemusic.org. A celebration of life for Damon is being planned now. More details on that soon.

Box of Rain

Look out of any window Any morning, any evening, any day Maybe the sun is shining Birds are winging, no rain is falling from a heavy sky What do you want me to do To do for you to see you through? For this is all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago

Walk out of any doorway Feel your way like the day before Maybe you'll find direction Around some corner where it's been waiting to meet you What do you want me to do To watch for you while you're sleeping? Then please don't be surprised when you find me dreaming too

Look into any eyes You find by you; you can see clear to another day Maybe been seen before Through other eyes on other days while going home What do you want me to do To do for you to see you through? It's all a dream we dreamed one afternoon long ago

Walk into splintered sunlight Inch your way through dead dreams to another land Maybe you're tired and broken Your tongue is twisted with words half spoken and thoughts unclear What do you want me to do To do for you, to see you through? A box of rain will ease the pain and love will see you through

Just a box of rain, wind and water Believe it if you need it, if you don't just pass it on Sun and shower, wind and rain In and out the window like a moth before a flame

And it's just a box of rain, I don't know who put it there Believe it if you need it or leave it if you dare And it's just a box of rain, or a ribbon for your hair Such a long, long time to be gone and a short time to be there

- Robert Hunter